Why Israel can’t play ball with the Board of Peace

It’s hard to prepare for calamities when there are no warning signs. Suddenly confronted with the worst, people have to do their best to ameliorate the resultant damage.

But when it comes to the future of Gaza, warning signs are everywhere, which means that we already have a glimpse into what could turn out to be a bad deal for Israel.

Trump’s proposed Board of Peace, supported by many nations, already reveals cracks and likely dangerous outcomes, for the independent State of Israel, which mustn’t find itself obligated to others who offer help but then want something in return.

Compromising Israel’s sovereignty is dangerous, because it places Jews back in the same pre-state situation where their safety was based upon the mercy of others. Contrary to the very foundation of the need for a Jewish homeland, we know that only self-determination can guarantee our survival.

It is what propelled our founding fathers to establish a top-notch military that would take on formidable enemies, whose goal was our complete destruction. For nearly 80 years, we have successfully prevailed, with God’s help, but the moment we place our dependency on others, we risk everything.

Now, that Israel has fought the battle against Hamas, nations, led by U.S. American President Donald J. Trump, have a vision for a new and improved Middle East. It includes a full physical restoration as well as a second chance for Gazans to govern themselves.

What will that look like? It’s reported that “Hamas is seeking to incorporate its 10,000 police officers into a new US-backed Palestinian administration for Gaza.” Yes, you read that right! Hamas is actually trying to restructure themselves into the new Gaza police force, transitioning themselves from terrorists to law enforcement.

And while Israel would oppose such an action, how would it be received by participants of the Board of Peace, such as Qatar and Turkey? Would they advocate for this new Gaza governance, arguing that it maintains a local citizenry presence?

Ironically, while phase two of the Gaza plan calls for the disarming of Hamas, if they were to become part of a police force there, they’d still be armed, only this time with legitimacy.

Here is the problem. A group called the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) has been set up to “manage day-to day operations of the civil service and administration in the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of the Gaza war and its related peace plan. It is composed of 15 politically independent Palestinian technocrats and is supervised by the international Board of Peace.”

Hamas has appealed to their affiliates to cooperate with this committee, in the hope of eventually being integrated into a Gaza police force, approved by whatever new government will be put into place. In other words, they are already getting their ducks in a row, for an incoming administration. What could possibly go wrong?

Since the NCAG has the blessing of the Board of Peace, what are the chances that one of the members would challenge others who co-serve in this body of governing actors?

And which one of these countries would reap the consequences of a Gazan police force, comprised of Hamas terrorists? None of them – which is why it’s easy for them to set the terms of Gaza’s new governance and law enforcement. The homes of their citizens will not be invaded in the middle of the night, nor will their people be slaughtered or kidnapped yet again. 

What is already predictable is the hard-sell which Israel will be forced to consider, once they receive “assurances” that they will be protected from further attacks. That’s music to the ears of a people who have endured nearly 80 years of constant wars and never-ending conflict. So, who wouldn’t be tempted to give it a go?

Think about it. When you have a majority of world nations all coming together to pledge that the Middle East will be battle-free, under their watch, how can you refuse such an offer? Compliance would be a foregone conclusion.  

The problem is that with such iron-clad guarantees, comes a hefty price tag, and that is why Israel’s sovereignty cannot be up for grabs. We have come too far to let others take away our self-determination.

No multinational force, promising security and peace, can change the fact that it is in Hamas’ charter to make sure that Israel is destroyed. They can cleverly hide their intentions and even camouflage themselves by swapping out their green headbands for the more respectable police uniforms, but what committee can extract the intense hatred in their heart for Israel?

And once this transfer of power is delegated to the Hamas police force, who will enter Gaza to take it away from them after they’ve violated their oath to maintain the peace? Will the UAE or Bahrain send in their own soldiers to rein in the renegades? 

How many Board of Peace countries would actually go out on the limb for Israel, given their own mixed political leanings? Will Gaza violations be met with a vote by member states? What will happen if Israel acts independently, taking measures to protect herself, despite the assurances she was given?

The warning signs are everywhere, flashing brightly – telling us that playing ball with this International Board of Peace will be dependent upon following the rules that they set up and being willing to give up our sovereignty in exchange for empty promises.

We know that in advance, because the world has already had enough time to prove itself – through the U.N., human rights organizations and world leaders – each of whom showed their true colors after October 7th. Trying to play both sides, we had a front row seat as accusations of genocide and starvation were hurled at us from every corner of the world.

Do we really need to put ourselves through another exercise in futility where cowardly nations lack the backbone to call out evil for what it is?

This is the reason that Israel cannot afford to play ball with countries whose political agendas are biased and unable to show impartiality. In truth, we were never meant to rely upon them, because doing so is to undercut the real sovereignty behind Israel. That belongs to the Almighty who will not waver in His promise to preserve us!